Graeme Base

Few people know that the great snow dragon of Greenland emerges screeching from Arctic tempests to devour its unsuspecting prey. Or that the diminutive Japanese butterfly lizard dragon secretes a sweet-scented oil from glands beneath its tiny wings. Or that the African dragon known as Livingstone's demon subsists on a jungle diet of berries, small birds, mammals and the occasional pith-helmeted explorer.

Few people know that the great snow dragon of Greenland emerges screeching from Arctic tempests to devour its unsuspecting prey. Or that the diminutive Japanese butterfly lizard dragon secretes a sweet-scented oil from glands beneath its tiny wings. Or that the African dragon known as Livingstone's demon subsists on a jungle diet of berries, small birds, mammals and the occasional pith-helmeted explorer.

Animalia by Graeme Base (Harry N. Abrams: $14.95; 32 pages of illustrations in color) In "Animalia," Australian illustrator Graeme Base breaks many of the rules of contemporary children's literature to create an elaborate alphabet book--alternately enchanting and scary--that will charm young readers. Since the early '50s, childrens' book illustrators have stressed bold, simple graphics with heavy outlines and areas of flat, bright color.

Adults who ache for the comfort of a good bedtime story are, well, buying good bedtime stories. In the past few years, children's books have become a billion-dollar industry, and not just because boomers are having babies. Sophisticated art and story lines often appear to be aimed at the adult market and such author/illustrators as the late Theodor (Dr.

The author lineup is growing for the second annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, to be held April 19 and 20 on the UCLA campus. About 60 events are scheduled on a variety of topics such as mysteries, romance, poetry, New Age, biography and environmentalism. There will also be a wide variety of children's programs, including publishers' and booksellers' booths and book signings. All events are free to the public.

The Every Picture Tells a Story gallery and bookstore in Hollywood, which exhibits original art from children's books, is "the most democratic gallery there is," said owner Abbie Phillips. "We have preschool tours come through, elementary school kids with attention disorders, high school gang rehab kids--plus the finest artists, writers and serious art collectors. There's something here that will appeal to every person and level of understanding and appreciation."

Paul Gottlieb, whose prescience about the expanding public appetite for art led him to the top of the art publishing world, died of an apparent heart attack Wednesday at his home in New York. He was 67. Gottlieb spent two decades at Harry N. Abrams, the largest publisher of art and illustrated books in the country. He retired last year as publisher, president and editor in chief but retained his position as vice chairman of its parent company, La Martiniere Groupe.

Editor's Note: As part of The Times' Reading by 9 initiative, Book Review is publishing a monthly series on how parents can introduce kids to the best children's literature. **** The creation of a magic bookshelf takes time, and as we begin this yearlong series, we will offer--in alphabetical order--the authors whose works must occupy a place on these shelves. But use this list as a way of exploring your child's flights of literary fancy.

Discovering your artwork trampled on the floor of a New York subway car can be humbling. Several years ago, editorial illustrator David Shannon found his drawing, printed in the New York Times' editorial pages, layered with dirty footprints. "It really brought home the impermanence of my work," said Shannon, who lives in Burbank with his wife, Heidi. "I immediately suspected that other people were lining their bird cages with my art."